What You Need to Know About School Counseling Services

Your school counselor is there for all students, but how many of your kids know the school counselor and/or know about the student support services they are there to provide? School counseling can look different across schools and grade levels, and it can be difficult to know what services are available to you and your child. National School Counseling Week is February 6–10, 2023, and this year’s theme is “Helping Students Dream Big.” In recognition of National School Counseling week, we have resources to help! In general, each counseling program consists of four components: Responsive Services, System Support, Guidance Curriculum, and Individual Planning.

Elementary School Counseling

School Counseling at the elementary level primarily consists of classroom guidance lessons. These lessons center on three different domains, social/emotional (friendships, bullying, tattling, healthy coping), educational (goal setting, time management, perseverance), and occupational (getting to know yourself and your strengths, future career goals). The school counselor is also available for individual and small group counseling, as well as referrals to community resources. If your school offers accommodations or modifications for learning differences, your school counselor may also be a resource in accessing these services. In some elementary schools, the counselor is also responsible for school and/or state testing.

Middle School Counseling

School counseling at the middle school level shifts from consisting of primarily classroom guidance to more of a balance between classroom guidance, system support, and individual academic planning (scheduling). Similar to the elementary level, the school counselor is also available for individual and small group counseling, as well as referrals to community resources. If your school offers accommodations or modifications for learning differences, your school counselor may also be a resource in accessing these services. In some schools the school counselor is also responsible for school and/or state testing.

High School Counseling

School counseling at the high school level consists of a similar breakdown to the middle school level with a balance of classroom guidance, system support, and individual academic planning. However, there is also a huge focus on college and career planning and readiness (this includes personal graduation plans, recommendation letters, and/or sending transcripts). The school counselor is also typically responsible for coordinating SAT/ACT testing, state testing, AP courses and testing, and Dual Credit courses. As with both elementary and middle school counseling, the school counselor is also available for individual and small group counseling, as well as referrals to community resources. If your school offers accommodations or modifications for learning differences, your school counselor may also be a resource in accessing these services.

It is important to note that counseling services on your child’s campus may differ depending on the school counselor’s education, training, and certification. To understand the school counselor’s specific role on your child’s campus, look for counseling information on the school website and/or contact the school counselor directly through the faculty directory. School counseling services are available to all students, and are aimed to help the development of the whole child, not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and relationally.

When to Seek Counseling

There are many reasons counseling can be beneficial for children. The list below provides things to look for in your child that may signal a benefit to counseling services. This list is not all encompassing, however can be helpful in identifying potential struggles your child may be going through. If you are noticing your child is experiencing multiple symptoms on the list, please reach out to your school counselor or seek outside counseling support. The best way to identify children who need counseling is with your gut feeling. Parents are wonderful at knowing and sensing when their child needs additional help or support.

Emotional Struggles

Excessive crying
Consistent over reaction to situations
Overly needy for attention
Unable to control temper
Separation difficulty
Poor impulse control

Social Struggles

Excessive arguing with friends
Bullying or target of bullying
Excessive time spent alone
Excessive lying or purposely hiding information

Behavioral Struggles

Hitting/kicking
Screaming
Inability to follow directions
Inability to follow rules
Difficulty in managing impulses

Situational Struggles

Divorce
Separation
Death of family member
New sibling
Deployment of parent
Change in living arrangements

Medical Struggles (difficulty coping with)

Seizures
Major illnesses
Asthma
Type 1 diabetes
Tourette’s
Self or family members struggling with COVID-related illness

Academic Struggles

Increased need for one-on-one assistance
Memory and retention issues
Test anxiety
Staying on task
Forgetting to complete assignments

About the Authors

Emily Daniels is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has worked in Archdiocesan schools for five years across all grade levels. Additionally, she has worked in a private practice setting, at The Institute for Couple and Family Enhancement, for four years. Emily specializes in working with children and families ages 3+.

Lindsay Durham is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She worked in Archdiocesan schools for five years across all grade levels. She currently works in a private practice setting, at The Institute for Couple and Family Enhancement. Lindsay specializes in working with children, teens, and families struggling with a variety of issues.